Friday, May 01, 2009

Duchess of Milan, Michael Ennis

Book Review: This is one of my all time favorite books. I love it so dearly that Jason got it for me on our first date February 14, 2003! Ennis's characters are fragile and robust, passionate and complex, and you can't help but fall in love with each and every one of them!

My heart was in every page, every plot turn and twist, I cried over their sorrows and jumped around madly at their triumphs! And I needed closure after the turn of the last page.

This book is yet another staple on my bookshelves and brings me much joy time and time again!

Book Synopsis: This complex, ambitious novel of Renaissance Italy by the author by Byzantium explores volatile events of the period from 1491 to 1508, as dukes of Naples and Milan scheme viciously, the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor play politics and the runty Valois king Charles VIII claims kinship with the house of Milan in order to "crusade" over the Alps and install French authority. The tale's appealing protagonist is Beatrice d'Este, who cherishes the poetry of Dante and maintains a healthy awe for the goddess Fortune. Wedded at 15 to faithless, dark-haired Lodovico Sforza, 40, the cruelly powerful son of an upstart condottiere, Beatrice first loathes and then loves her callous spouse, though the development of their relationship is not convincing. Throughout, Beatrice vies with shrewish cousin Isabella of Aragon for the title of Duchess of Milan. Scenes of torture, sex and childbirth; texts of letters; descriptions of gowns, artifacts, dreams, ceremonies and hunt parties; and inserted passages of explanatory history (Leonardo da Vinci periodically reports as engineer at the court of Milan) add color and texture. The narrative sometimes sags beneath the weight of its supernumary characters and compulsive documentation, but the play of strongwilled personalities against a vivid historical background produces a satisfying tale. 60,000 first printing; $60,000 ad/promo. Synopsis Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

For more information or to purchase http://www.amazon.com/Duchess-Milan-Onyx-Michael-Ennis/dp/0451404289/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

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